Aria walked towards the imposing gate, determination etched on her face. As she reached it, two guards swiftly blocked her path.
"Apologies, Lady Aria, but it's against the rules for any vampire to leave the academy," one of the guards explained.
Aria responded with a soft, resigned sigh. "Is that so..." she murmured, her eyes locking onto theirs. In an instant, her gaze intensified, and a crimson hue enveloped her eyes.
"Allow me to pass, and let this remain a secret," she commanded, her voice carrying an air of authority.
The guards, caught in a trance, nodded absentmindedly. Aria, utilizing her hypnotic abilities, effortlessly moved past the gate. She walked into the dense forest until she reached the boundary of the academy. There stood a large tree with something resembling an odd coin bank attached. She dropped a coin into it, and soon after, a bus arrived. When you drop a coin into it, a hired vampire will come to fulfill any command. The bus driver was also a vampire, and he would take her to the town.
The driver bowed respectfully as Aria boarded the bus, finding her way to the back. The bus started moving, passing through a large and long tunnel. This served as a portal to Serolf Academy and the town. No one could reach the academy by going around the mountain unless they took the bus she was on.
.
....
Jade walked through the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps echoing softly as she passed by Xylon, who leaned against the cold wall. Ignoring his presence, she continued walking.
"Are you happy with him?" Xylon's question pierced the air, halting Jade's determined stride.
Slowly, she turned to face him. "What are you talking about?" she responded, her voice a blend of confusion and defensiveness.
Xylon walked closer to her, his eyes searching hers.
In a moment of vulnerability, his hands gently found their way to her shoulders. "Tell me, Jade... Are you genuinely happy with him? Do you love him?" His voice carried a tone of sadness.
Caught off guard, Jade stammered, "Who are you even talking about?"
A heavy sigh escaped Xylon as he reluctantly released her. "No one," he whispered, turning away. The sadness in his eyes was unmistakable.
"But I won't give up," Xylon declared.
With those words, he left Jade standing there, bewildered.
"Give up on what?" she whispered.
Now, she was getting confused again. Why was he acting strangely in front of her now? What's going on?
.
.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Aria reached the town. She pulled up her hood upon disembarking from the bus, the dwindling daylight casting a subtle gloom. With only a few people around due to the approaching darkness, she began to walk.
In her wanderings, she stumbled upon a small bakery and halted when she noticed a young man closing it.
"C-Crayven," she whispered.
Could it be him? He bore an uncanny resemblance to her lover who had passed away.
Another young man emerged from the shop, catching Aria off guard. Sensing her vampire energy, he quickly turned in her direction, his eyes widening at the sight of Aria. Cedrick, too, turned to look at her.
Quickly approaching her, Stephen knelt before Aria. "Lady Aria, it brings me joy to see you again," he respectfully uttered.
"Rise; there's no need to kneel. We're of the same rank," Aria insisted.
"But I have left Serolf Academy and Aznar; I no longer hold any rank. I am now a mere commoner," Stephen explained.
Aria shook her head. "The prince did not revoke your status; you remain a noble."
Surprised, Stephen discovered that his noble rank endured even after renouncing his title.
Stephen Travis Eveson, a vampire who ran away and left his life as a noble after the incident that happened seven years ago. Stephen was Crayven's best friend, and the fact that Crayven died without justice pained him, leading to resentment toward his friends.
He roamed around the human realm and accidentally met Cedrick, who resembled his best friend. Now, he lives peacefully with him in this town, pretending to be human, without the knowledge of other vampires.
"Hey, dude, why are you kneeling for that chick?" Cedrick interjected.
Stephen stood, and Aria glanced at Cedrick, feeling a mix of emotions, a desire to embrace him welling up within her.
"Crayven..." Aria softly uttered.
Cedrick looked at her, he really did resemble Aria's past love, Crayven.
"Lady Aria, this is Cedrick, my friend," Stephen introduced. "Cedrick, meet Aria, a student from Serolf Academy."
Cedrick's eyes widened. "Seriously, man? You've got a high-profile friend. Hi, miss," he greeted, extending his hand.
Aria took his hand, unable to break her gaze from Cedrick, her thoughts filled with an indescribable yearning.
.
.
"La lala la la la~" echoed Jade's carefree melody as she strolled through the school garden. The enchanting tune resonated amid the blossoms. Passing the meticulously planted rows of roses, her eyes lit up.
"Wow, you're all so beautiful," she joyfully expressed, reveling in the fragrance of the red roses she encountered. Without hesitation, Jade delicately picked one.
"Do you like roses?" a voice asked.
Jade turned to look behind her, but found no one. Confused, her gaze scanned the surroundings until it settled on a tree, and she saw Xylon up there.
"Sorry, they're just so beautiful, so I picked one," Jade explained, her voice carrying genuine admiration.
Xylon gracefully descended, and with a nonchalant demeanor, stated, "I didn't say you couldn't pick one," as he plucked another rose.
"These roses are special, so they should be given to someone special, like you," he continued, gently placing the rose behind Jade's ear. "It suits you," Xylon remarked, a subtle warmth softening his typically guarded demeanor.
Jade was puzzled by Xylon's actions. She was continually perplexed by the people at the academy; their behaviors were always unusual.
"Um, thanks. I'll go now. Bye-bye," she said.
She was about to leave, but Xylon grabbed her hand.
"Don't go," he implored, his eyes conveying a vulnerability that contradicted his usual stoicism.
Surprised, Jade met his gaze. Xylon, now averting his eyes, confessed, "I-I don't have anyone to be with today," revealing a side of himself that seemed foreign, even to her.
Jade couldn't help but laugh. The once stoic Xylon now resembled a child pleading for company. In that moment, she decided to offer him the companionship he sought.
As they settled in the garden, a casual conversation unfolded. Jade, ever inquisitive, couldn't resist teasing Xylon about his seemingly softened demeanor.
"Why are you so grumpy?" she playfully questioned, her eyes dancing with amusement.
Xylon, attempting to maintain his composure, furrowed his brow. "I'm not grumpy," he retorted, though a subtle twinkle betrayed a hint of amusement.
"Really? You used to always pick a fight with me before. But now, you seem so nice. What happened?" she prodded, genuinely intrigued by the transformation.
"I'm always nice; it's just not obvious," Xylon insisted, though a trace of self-amusement lingered in his eyes.
"Haha, I'm not used to your kind actions," she said, enjoying the banter.
Xylon frowned.
"Haha, you're frowning again," she teased, her laughter echoing through the garden.
Undeterred, Xylon chuckled, embracing the newfound camaraderie.
"By the way, I noticed you're close to Phoenix. How did you two meet?" Xylon inquired, shifting the topic to a more reflective tone.
"Hmm... he saved me from a wolf when I was walking in the forest," Jade shared, the memory invoking a mix of gratitude and vulnerability.
"Psh, just one wolf," Xylon remarked.
"Well, even if it's only one, it's still scary, you know," Jade insisted, a touch of assertiveness in her voice.
"Why didn't you run? What's the use of those legs?" Xylon teased, his gaze locking with hers in a playful challenge.
"Seriously! You want me to run? What if it chased me?" Jade countered, her laughter intertwining with her disbelief.
"Then run fast until you lose it," Xylon playfully suggested, the banter reflecting the newfound ease in their interaction.
"As if I will be able to survive there alone!" she said.
Xylon, in good spirits, laughed and gently pinched Jade's nose. As the conversation flowed, they became engrossed in laughter, forgetting the passing time.
.
....
The room enveloped in darkness, Maddison and Genevieve immersed themselves in studying the ancient incantations scripted within the black book, relying solely on the flickering candlelight for guidance.
"Place a balete leaf, a strand of hair, and..." Maddison's words hung in the air, disrupted by an abrupt crash that echoed through the room. Their attention swiftly diverted.
"Ouch!!!" a sharp cry reached their ears.
Genevieve quickly turned on the light. They saw Rebeus, who accidentally knocked over the cabinet.
"What are you doing there?" Maddison inquired, a surprised expression on her face.
"I was trying to see what you're up to, but it's so dark, so..." Rebeus explained, gesturing towards the dimness. "Could you lend me a hand?"
"Nah, you're a vampire; escaping from there should be easy for you," Genevieve remarked.
Rebeus had no choice. He pushed the cabinet effortlessly and stood up.
"So, what are you doing?" he asked.
"Isn't it obvious? We're studying," Maddison replied.
Suddenly, Zake barged into the room.
"I-I'm hungry..." Zake announced.
"Again? You're always hungry," Rebeus commented.
"I-I want Jade... she smells so good... She smells delicious," Zake said.
Rebeus and Genevieve exchanged glances.
"Oh, Zake, stop saying Jade is delicious," Genevieve said, retrieving a vampire tablet from a jar. "Here, eat this."
She handed the tablet to Zake, who quickly swallowed it and left the room like a satisfied child.
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....
Once again, the young man ventured to the aged chapel behind the academy. He went inside and saw the young lady seated in quiet contemplation before the altar.
"How have you been?" he inquired, his voice carrying a gentle tone.
Yet, the young lady maintained her silence, a mysterious air surrounding her.
With tenderness, the young man ran his fingers through her hair. "I apologize if I need to do this to you. I just want to protect you," he expressed sincerely.
The young lady, an enigma wrapped in silence, offered no response, leaving an unspoken connection between them.
.
....
Night had fallen by the time Aria made her way back to the academy. As she passed through the entrance gate, she unexpectedly encountered Xenon.
"You're well aware that venturing beyond the academy is strictly prohibited," Xenon pointed out.
"I had a matter to attend to," Aria explained.
"Did you visit the town? And what exactly were you doing there?" Xenon pressed for details.
"That doesn't matter. I'm going to rest now," Aria stated.
As she was about to leave, Xenon stopped her.
"Whatever you're up to, make sure you don't put yourself in harm's way," Xenon advised.
"I know what I'm doing, Xen," Aria responded before finally walking away.